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Yamamuro T, Saito Y, Okada Y, Segawa H, Kuwayama K, Tsujikawa K, Kanamori T, Iwata YT. Identifying a suspect powder as a cannabis concentrate through chemical analysis and DNA testing. Forensic Toxicol 2024; 42:102-109. [PMID: 37603166 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-023-00672-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cannabis is regulated in many countries, and cannabis products are diversifying, which can hinder identification. Here, we report the seizure of a powder sample with a cannabis-like odor in a spice bottle labeled "nutmeg" and identification of the sample by chemical testing and cannabis DNA testing. METHODS The sample was observed under a microscope, extracted with methanol, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The chemical profile of the seized powder was compared with that of nutmeg samples. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection was used to estimate the total Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentration in the sample. A commercially available cannabis DNA testing kit was used to confirm the presence of cannabis plant DNA in the seized sample. RESULTS The characteristics of cannabis in the seized powder were difficult to determine through microscopic observation alone. GC-MS analysis identified β-caryophyllene (an aromatic component of cannabis) and five cannabinoids unique to cannabis, including Δ9-THC. No common compounds were identified in the seized powder or nutmeg samples. The total Δ9-THC concentration in the sample was very high (approximately 47% by weight). Cannabis DNA testing confirmed that the seized powder contained cannabis. CONCLUSIONS The seized powder was found to be a processed product made from a finely pulverized resin-like cannabis concentrate. Our results indicate that combined chemical and DNA analysis should help identify cannabis-related samples in various forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Yamamuro
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Saito
- Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Hokkaido Prefectural Police Headquarters, Kita 2-Jo Nishi 7-Chome, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8520, Japan
| | - Yuki Okada
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Hiroki Segawa
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Kenji Kuwayama
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Kenji Tsujikawa
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kanamori
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Yuko T Iwata
- National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
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Kalendar R, Baidyussen A, Serikbay D, Zotova L, Khassanova G, Kuzbakova M, Jatayev S, Hu YG, Schramm C, Anderson PA, Jenkins CLD, Soole KL, Shavrukov Y. Modified "Allele-Specific qPCR" Method for SNP Genotyping Based on FRET. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:747886. [PMID: 35082803 PMCID: PMC8784781 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.747886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The proposed method is a modified and improved version of the existing "Allele-specific q-PCR" (ASQ) method for genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). This method is similar to frequently used techniques like Amplifluor and Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP), as well as others employing common universal probes (UPs) for SNP analyses. In the proposed ASQ method, the fluorophores and quencher are located in separate complementary oligonucleotides. The ASQ method is based on the simultaneous presence in PCR of the following two components: an allele-specific mixture (allele-specific and common primers) and a template-independent detector mixture that contains two or more (up to four) universal probes (UP-1 to 4) and a single universal quencher oligonucleotide (Uni-Q). The SNP site is positioned preferably at a penultimate base in each allele-specific primer, which increases the reaction specificity and allele discrimination. The proposed ASQ method is advanced in providing a very clear and effective measurement of the fluorescence emitted, with very low signal background-noise, and simple procedures convenient for customized modifications and adjustments. Importantly, this ASQ method is estimated as two- to ten-fold cheaper than Amplifluor and KASP, and much cheaper than all those methods that rely on dual-labeled probes without universal components, like TaqMan and Molecular Beacons. Results for SNP genotyping in the barley genes HvSAP16 and HvSAP8, in which stress-associated proteins are controlled, are presented as proven and validated examples. This method is suitable for bi-allelic uniplex reactions but it can potentially be used for 3- or 4-allelic variants or different SNPs in a multiplex format in a range of applications including medical, forensic, or others involving SNP genotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Kalendar
- National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- Institute of Biotechnology HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Ruslan Kalendar
| | - Akmaral Baidyussen
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Dauren Serikbay
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lyudmila Zotova
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Gulmira Khassanova
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Marzhan Kuzbakova
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Satyvaldy Jatayev
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Yin-Gang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Carly Schramm
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Peter A. Anderson
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Colin L. D. Jenkins
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kathleen L. Soole
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Yuri Shavrukov
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Yuri Shavrukov
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